Well production apparatus



4May 29, I1928. E. VAUGHN ET AL Re. 16,980l

WELL. PRODUCT ION APPARATUS Original Filed Jan. 29. 1925 a R U X a www m mf, N. J Q n v F M Reissues Mayfze, 1928.,

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

FRED B. VAUGHN, l' MAY'WOOD, .AND IDBIS THOMAS, 0F WH-ITTIER, CALIFORNIA.

WELL-PRODUCTION APPARATUS.

Original No. 1,626,057, dated April 26, 1927, Serial No. 5,464, iiled January 29, 1925. Application for reissue tiled J'une 20, 1927. Serial No. 200,207. j

This invention is a well production a paratus having a'valvular control lin the we l tubing adjustable by manipulating the string oftubing from the ground level, the embodiment of the invention illustrated relating particularly to the production of oil and the i like froml a` well, by discharging a jet of gaseous fluid under pressure upwardly into Ithe column of-liquid standing` in the well, in order to elevate the column of liquid for discharge thereof at the ground level.

It is an object of the invention to provide extremely simple means for adjusting the valvular control, which in the present embodiment constitutes a jetmmechanism submerged in the liquid in thev well and .adapted for regulation in accordance with variations in the pressure of the flow in order to obtain maximum production; and-to'op-erate the adjusting means from the ground level so that the valvular control in the well tubing may be adjusted without pulling the tubing.

It is a still further object of the invention to adjust the valvular control by rotatin the 4 25 portion of the string of well tubing w ich extends upwardly therefrom to the ground level, said upper portion of the string of tubing resting upon the well casing with anti-frictional means preferably provided 30 between the parts so that the string of tubing may be readily turned.

It is a still further object of the invention to provide a valvular control in the form of a. jet which will be of maximum eiliciency as a result of arranging the same for spiral ldischarge into the liquid in the well.

The invention will be readily understood from the following description of the accompanying drawings, in which Fig. 1 is a vertical section through the bore of a. well showing the invention embodied in a jet mechanism.l

Fig. 2 is a vertical section through the `et. v

] Figs. 3, 4,-and 5 are transverse sections on the lines 3 3, 4-4, and 5 5 of Fig. 2;

The present embodiment of the invention provides a fluid pressure jet mechanism illustrated in connection with the usual' oil well construction including well casing 1 and a string of tubing 2'extendi1'g downwardly therethrough with the lengths of tubing connected by usual threaded means 3. In the form of the invention to be described ya head 4 is mounted on the well casing at the derrick floor 5, and a. pipe 6 communicates with the head for discharge into the annular space -7 between the casing and tubing.

The tubing 2 projects upwardly through head 4, and a collar8 is fixed on the tubing so as to rest upon the head and thus support the string of tubing in the well casing. Antifrictional means shown as ball bearings 9, are provided-between collar`8 and head 4 to permlt readyrotaton of the collar so as to turn the string of tubing in the well casing for a purpose to be hereinafter described.

The column of oil elevated through the string of tubing is discharged through collar 8 into a pipe line 9 leading-to suitable storagey mean Oil enters the string of tubing in the well 1n usual manner (not shown) and is adapted for elevation through the string of well tubing, the iiow of oil being regulated by a valvular means which in the present embodiment of the invention is shown as a jet mechanism positioned at anyldesired point below the normal oil level.

As an instance of this arrangement, a length of the welll tubing shown at 2a is provided with an interior shoulder 10 forming a restricted central orifice 11 for the passage of oilupwardly therethrough. A

plug 12 is fixed to the lower end of tubing 2a by a threaded .connection 3, so as to space the plug a short distance below orifice' 11 and t-hus form an oil, reservoir 14 between the latter and the plug. The plug is provided with longitudinal bores 13 for the passage of oil, and the parts are positioned in the well so that the normal level of the oil is above orifice 11', thereby filling the reservoir 14 and submerging the plug 12. v

The plug 12 forms al jet at its upper end 95 discharging into reservoir 14 so as to elevate the column of oil4 in the tubing 2 for dischargeithereof through pipe line 9. The

j j et is illustrated as comprising a central bore 15 in plug 12, tapering at its upper end to a 100 restricted orifice through which a `gaseous fluid under pressure is discharged into reservoir 14. l

The gaseous fluid .is preferably' dry gas yrecovered from the flow from the well in casing of the well, and the compressor f maintains the gaseous iuid in the annular space at the necessary pressure to nelevate the column of oil in the well tubing.

The gaseous fluid is discharged through the restricted orificel of bre'15 which forms a nozzle 16. The gaseous fluid is supplied to the bore through radial bores 18v in plug 12, the bores 18 communicating at their outer ends with annular space 7, and inclining upwardly toward their inner ends which open in to the tapering upper end of bore 15 adj acent discharge nozzle 16. L v

The discharge of theV aseous iuid through the restricted orifice o the jet Lis .adjusted from the derrick floor without the necessity -of pulling the tubing 1from the well. For

this purpose a needle valve 19 is mounted in bore .15 with its tapering end extending through the tapering end of the bore, fso that vertical adjustment of plug 12 relative to the needle valve will vary the discharge through nozzle 16.

The plug 12 may be' vertically adjusted by means of a threaded connection 20 between the exterior ofthe lower portion of said plug and the interior ofthe upper portion of a barrel 21 forming the next lower length f the string of tubing 2. Barrel 21 is fixed to the lower portion of the string of tubing inthe well by a threaded connection 3, and packing 17 is adapted to' hold said barrel and the lower portion of the string of tubing against rotation in the well casing, while the upper portion of the string of tubing and the plug 12 .connected thereto are adapted to be turned in the well casing, so as to vertically adjust the plug through threadedi connection 20.

The needle valve 19 is mounted on the stationary barrel 21, so that 'vertical adjustment of plug 12 relativerto said barrel willy vary the discharge through orifice 1 6 ofthe jet;

' and the plug and upperportion of the string plug may be appreciably of tubing connected thereto, are rotated for vertically adjusting the`plug, byturning collar 8 atfthe derrick floor. Graduations 22 cooperate?? with collar 8 to indicate the vvertical adjustment of plug 12, and the connection 2O is of relatively coarse threads so that the vertically adjusted y relatively sllght turnin of the collar.

, The mounting forneed e 'valve 19 on the stationary barrel, `may comprise a transverse artition 23 in said barrel in spaced relation below plug 12, with the lower end of ythe needle valvestem threaded through said partition,fand ashould'er 24 on 'the valve stem Clamipedbagainstthe partition by a nut 25 threaded on the lower end of the valve stem.

Longitudinal bores 26 for the free passage of oil, extendthrough partition 23, the lspacing of Asidpartition below plug 12 provid-f:4`

ing anunobstructed passagewa irrespective of the alinement of bores 13 an 26.\\

n order to limit the vertical adjustment of plug 12 relative to barrel 21, a shoulder 27 on the plug is adapted to abut against the upper end of the barrel so as to prevent wedging of the needle valve in bore 15 when the plug is lowered; and av collar 28 threaded l on the lower end of plug 12 is received in an annular groove 29.y in barrel 21, so as to abut against a shoulder 30 at the top of said' groove and thus prevent disengagement of threaded connection 20 when the plug is elevated.

The parts arev assembled with collar 28 're-L moved from plug 12, and in order to permit insertion of said collar in the groove 29, opposite sides of the collar may be cut away as shown at 31, so that tiltingthe collar to to the bore of barrel 21, t-he collar may be inserted in the barrel and then t-urned back to horizontal vposition in groove 29.

vertical position with its cut away sides parallel .Plug'12 is then threaded into barrel 21 so 'E A leak-proof joint is preferably provided between the stem of needle valve 19 and theV lower end of the bore 15, by means of a4 stuing box comprising annular packing 35 and a follower 36.

-We have thus provided extremely simple but practical means for adjusting avalvular-v control in a st-ring of well tubing by manipulating the tubing atthe ground level, the valvular control being of any desired construction adapted to regulate the'low-of the well, but being particularly applicable to a fluid pressure How elevating means wherein the valvular control providesl a jet lift mechanism. u

We claim: v

1. .A well construction including well tubing, a plugforlning a section of said tubing, sald plug eing connectedto the portion of the string of tubing which extends upwardly therefrom and having threaded engagement with the portion of the string of tubing which depends therefrom so that turning of the upper portion of the string of tubing will raise and lower. the lug relative to the lower portion of the string of tubing, said plug having a central bore and a lon tudinal opening-f,y extending therethroug the upper end of said central bore ta ring to a restricted discharge orifice, said p ug having spirally grooyed as shown lou a transverse boreqcommunieating with its Vthe string of tubing and extending into the central bore so as vto close the lower end thereof, and valvular means associated with said stem and mounted in the tapering end of the central bore so that raising and lowering of said plug will regulate the discharge oriiice of the central bore.

2. A well construction including ell tubing adapted for reception in a well` ore and comprising upper and lower sections, a plug in one section ofthe tubing having a bore opening longitudinally through the plug, a valve cooperating with said bore and fixed to the other section. of they tubing, and a threaded connection between said sections of the tubing for moving the valve and plug relative to one ,another so as to regulate disp charge from the bore of the plug by turning the upper section of the tubing at the top of the well. i

3. Well tubing Acomprising upper and lower sections having an operating connec- Ation adapted to raise and lower the upper section relative to the lower section by turning the upper section,'a plug in one of said sections having a central bore and a longitudinal o ening extending therethrough, the end of tiie central bore taperingto a restricted discharge orifice, said plug having a transverse bore communicating with itscentral bore and opening through the well tubing, a stem fixed to the other section of the tubing, and valvular means associated .with

said stem and mounted in the tapering end of the central bore so that raising and lowering the lupper section of the tubing relative to the lower section will regulate the discharge orifice of the central bore.

4. Well tubing comprising upper and lower sections having an Operating connection adapted to raise and lower the upper section relative to the lower section by turning the upper section, a nozzle'in one of .said sections providin for elevation of liquid in the tubing by disc afge of a fluid under presv sure from the bore oi the-nozzle into the tubing, and a valve cooperating with the bore of the nozzle and iixed to the other section of tbe tubing so that raising and lower; ing the upper section of the tubing relative to the lower section will regulate discharge from the bore ofthe nozzle.

5. Well tubing comprising upper and lower sections having an operating connection adapted to raise and lower the upper section relative to the lower section by turning the upper section, aplug in one of said sections having a bore providing communication between the; sections, said plug forming a nozzle, means for forcing iuid through the nozzle and into the tubing, and a valve cooperating with the nozzle and iixed to the other section of the tubing so' that raising and lowering the upper section of the tubing relative to Jthe lower section will regulate discharge from the bore of/the nozzle.

6. Well tubing comprising upper and lower sections having an operating connection adapted to raise and lower the upper section relative to the lower section by turning the upper section, a nozzle in one of said sections, and a valve cooperatingl with the nozzle and fixed to the other section of the tubing so that raising-and lowering the upperr lower sect-ions having an operating connec- .o

tion adapted to raise and lower the upper section relative to the lower section by turning the upper section, a plug in one of said sections having a bore opening longitudinally through'the plug, and a valve cooperating with the bore of the plug and fixed to the` other section of the tubing so that raising and lowering the upper section ofthe tubing relative to the lower section will regulate iow through the *bore of the plug.

In testimony whereof we have aiiixed our signatures to this speciiication.

FRED B.v VAUGHN. IDRIS THOMAS. 

